"Were you thinking of going somewhere, or were they moving in?"
She hesitated, fighting another battle with herself before she replied.
"It isn't mine."
"Who does it belong to — your new boarders?"
"No. It belongs to — the same person. He left it with me some time ago. He said it was a lot of old books that he'd brought in from the country to give to the USO, but he kept forgetting to do anything about it." Her eyes went back to him with a weak spark of hope. "Perhaps he just sent those men to fetch it."
"Perhaps he did," Simon agreed courteously. "Do you mind if I have a look at these old books?"
She shook her head.
"I suppose I can't stop you. But the bag's locked."
He looked at her humorously.
"I should have known that a bookworm like you would have tried to take a peek before this."